Page 49 of Siren's Kiss & Feral Beasts
“What the hell is going on?” I demand, my eyes narrowing on her. “Why do you look so…”
At my trail off, Queen Lucienne smiles. Her face is soft. “I had a dream last night, my child. One that literally breathed life back into me.”
“You had a dream?” The implications are there, and I don’t know how to feel about it. My dream was anything but innocent.Did she…? Who did she…?
“I did,” she says as if I’d spoken out loud, head tilting to the side as she appraises me. “Much like you did, but judging by the blush on your face, mine wasn’t on the same level.”
“Grandmother, I truly do not understand.”
“You shared a dream with your mate, Nerissa. In your despair, you called out to him, and the alpha replied. But more importantly, you welcomed him into your space.” Her delicate finger taps mine, still wrapped around the stone. “Unconsciously, you sought refuge where you knew you’d be safe. With the one person in this world who will never hurt you.”
18
NERISSA
The care unit hums with quiet energy, shells glowing softly along the walls as the healers work in nearby chambers. My father lies in his bed, pale and his chest rising slowly in a shallow rhythm, while I stay by his side, gripping the edge of the bed until my fingers ache.
I’m still shaken from Grandma’s warning. I’m still lost and uncertain—need the truth now more than ever, but I’m not given the opportunity to ask or demand it. Instead, I’m told to stop and listen while she sits close and her voice drops lower.
The one person in this world who will never hurt you.
“Push the red button on the wall, Nerissa. The small one.” I do as asked, and immediately, a low sonar sound fills the room. It makes it hard to understand the noises outside in the hall and other rooms, and then I get it. For privacy. “Come close and pay attention. We only have a little bit of time before someone comes in and shuts it off.”
“What’s going on?”
Her hand finds mine, tugging me closer, and then she squeezes in a way meant to be comforting. “Your grandfather, sweetheart…he committed a crime he will never atone for. He’sdying, Nerissa. Dying slowly, but his wasting away is unlike mine. I’ll survive with proper care, while he has no cure.”
“Proper care? What do you mean?” A deep pang hits me in the chest, and my eyes become glossy. “What did he do?
Because if he’s responsible for my dad’s poisoning…
“Your grandfather killed his mate.” Her lips flatten and her tone is acerbic, pure disgust dripping through each word. “All for greed. To claim my throne, and my father helped him.”
I stumble back, the shock causing me to recoil, but the question still slips from me. “Who? Was she a part of our?—”
Grandma is shaking her head before I can finish, eyes softening for a split second before flashing with fury. “No. Not a mermaid.”
“Then who?” A whisper. A plea.
“She was an orphan protected by an ancient vampire house in the north. The elder, Lord Severus, had taken the child in and fancied himself a godfather. Doting when earned and then expectant as she grew older. She became his right hand, wanted for nothing but handled everything from financials to finding suitable donors.”
“And she agreed.”
“He treated her like family, Nerissa. Let no harm come to her, and expected all vampires to protect her just the same.” Grandmother stops, her brows furrow in thought. “In fact, they say the cruelest Lord Severus ever was to Angelis was when he found out she was mated to Atlas, and even then, his displeasure was expressed in softly spoken words.”
“Why? Why would Grandpa do this?” I’m having a hard time reconciling the man who killed his mate to the man I’ve grown up with. Yes, he can be overbearing and a little sexist, but to actually take your mate’s life is unforgivable. A slap in the face to the gods. “I’m?—”
“It gets worse.”
“How?”
Queen Lucienne swallows hard, her face so sad, the betrayal she feels coiling around us. “My husband killed his fated mate and married me, because he thought it would give him unchallenged power. Instead, it’s tethered him to a slow decay triggered by a vampire’s kiss.”
Wait. What the hell?“Why would he drink tainted blood?”
“Not by choice.” This makes her smile, slow and wry. “It was a peace offering made after, and Severus laced his drink. “Grandma shrugs. “Atlas had it coming, and now clings to the vampires in hopes of freeing himself. He always suspected Kai would be your mate and spoke ill of the wolves, just like he blamed your father’s poisoning on the Daire pack. Mermaids have been whispering for days, offering well wishes to Marin while cursing those who left him face down on the shores of an abandoned island between San Tico and Avaria.”
“That’s not what happened!” I shout, and then bite back the rest of my retort. Drawing attention to us will tie my hands again. I need answers, not chains. “I’m sorry.”
